2020, Vol. 8, Issue 3, Part A

Objective: To evaluate the protective potential of ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina against aluminium chloride induced renal damage in male rats so as to provide some evidence for its ethno medicinal application in the treatment of renal disorder.

Methodology: Male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were treated with 100 mg/kg bw of aluminium chloride and 400 mg/kg bw of ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina for 21 days. Assay for some indices of renal damage in serum and histopathological examination of the kidney were carried.

Results: Treatment with aluminium chloride induced a significant increase (p˂0.05) in serum levels of urea, creatinine, bicarbonate and chloride which became significantly reduced (p˂0.05) in the presence of ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina. Histopathological alterations in tissue sections were also reversed by the leaf extract.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated the protective properties of ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina aganst aluminium chloride induced damage to the kidney of male Wistar rats.